If I a group of whites were promised the entire Anderson line of African-Americans, does that mean they should be allowed to have them, simply because a "promise is a promise".

What folks are failing to realize in all their righteous-indignation is that the world changes and sometimes what worked THEN no longer works now. The courts made a decision. They felt that the promise made back then is not comporable or doable today. Yes, this 100% screws over alot of veterans and their ability to get aid, and I would bitch and moan if I were put in their shoes, but bottom line for whatever reason, that promise isn't feasible now, and has been deemed so.